Paula Smith

Background

About Paula Smith

Paula Smith is the lead communication trainer and executive communication workshop facilitator in the Strategy and Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, Department of the Army at the Pentagon. Ms. Smith spearheads media and public communication training and special projects. She supports the Army Strategic Education Program for executives, the Army Service Unique Program for Public Affairs professionals, and communication initiatives. Ms. Smith’s experience spans more than two decades in public affairs and media. Earning a journalism degree at the University of Central Arkansas, she honed skills in radio, television and print. In radio, she worked her way from announcer and show host to news director. She spent much time in the newsroom as a “stringer” or freelance reporter for the Associated Press and Arkansas Radio Network. She interviewed many interesting public figures. Some of the most vivid were Gov. Bill Clinton, Scottie Pippen, Sam Donaldson, and Robert Bork. Her commitment to public affairs began in 1990 when she entered federal service immediately following completion of her degree. Federal Career Highlights: • Spokesperson, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana • Spokesperson, two NATO Partnership for Peace exercises/ two POTUS visits for the troops • Liaison, International and National Media Projects: o Tom Clancy’s non-fiction military book series o Harvard Business School -“Putting the Learning Organization to Work”– a video learning guide about the Army’s learning process o Hundreds of network and special TV engagements – summary of highlights: Discovery Channel, PBS Frontline, ABC Nightline, A Current Affair, TBS, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, The Learning Channel, AP, Reuters, Channel One, German, Japan, and Singapore TV, BBC, Hungarian and Russian TV • Liaison, National Outreach for the Medal of Honor o Celebrity engagements with American Soldiers and Families Gary Sinise, Lonestar, Josh Gracin, and Ben Stein